More patience in suffering

This is a continuation of the More Holiness Give Me theme.

We are to the third line of the hymn: "More holiness give me, more strivings within in. More patience in suffering..."

I was sitting in a church meeting recently (I do that a lot) and we were reading and discussing the first chapter of the Book of Mormon. A phrase stood out to me in a new light.

"I, Nephi, ...having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days..." (1 Nephi 1:1).

In context, this phrase is easy to pass over since there are more important things in the verse. But during this particular reading, I paused to think about Nephi and his life. Let me summarize:

Nephi's father's life was threatened because of his religious beliefs and preaching. Nephi and his family left their home land, left all their possessions and everyone they knew, to follow the Lord's counsel to travel to a new land. This small group of people wandered in the wilderness for 8 years. Many times they had very little to eat. They were required to hunt for food or find food growing in the wild. Often they had to eat raw meat. While in the wilderness, Nephi's wife bore babies. They lived in tents. Nephi's brothers hated him and tried repeatedly to kill him. They beat him severely. They tied him up and left him without food or water for a long time. The Lord instructed Nephi to build a ship. Nephi learned from the Lord how to make tools and construct a ship. Once the ship was finished, the group of people took provisions and set out to the unknown to make a new life in a strange land. While sailing, there were storms and tempests and their lives were in danger. Nephi's brothers again tried to kill him. They finally got to the new land where they had to build houses, plant crops, and learn how to survive. Nephi's brothers became so angry with him that Nephi and those who would follow him had to leave their settlement and find a new place to develop a little community. During the course of his life, he even had to defend himself in war against his own brothers.

I think that his life sounds a little tough. But Nephi sees it differently. He clearly discerns that he has been highly favored of the Lord in all his days. There are many reasons and ways Nephi was favored of the Lord. I want to focus on the simple attribute of patience. Nephi was favored of the Lord because throughout all his suffering, he was patient. He endured his trials without complaint and with a cheerful heart.

Again from Nephi: "I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh" (2 Nephi 4:19-21).

Nephi's patience in suffering was found because he trusted in the Lord.

We all suffer in this life. It's part of the reason we are here. But if we learn to be patient in suffering, we can have joy in the journey. I believe that if we can develop more patience in suffering if we learn to trust God:

Trust God's promises of future blessings
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Recognize God's blessings in our lives and trust Him to bless us again.
"And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me" (Alma 36:27).

Trust God's timing, which is not the same as our timing.
"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise" (Hebrews 6:15).

Trust in God's ability and desire to answer our prayers.
"Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament---the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted" (Doctrine and Covenants 98:2).

Trust that God knows more than we do and He wants what is best for us.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Patience in suffering is worth the effort. "Behold, we count them happy which endure" (James 5:11). God has promised us blessings as we faithful and patiently endure daily suffering. As we recognize the blessings we are already given, we can see in what ways we are favored of the Lord.